Taking action on health misinformation 

Canadians are encountering misinformation about science and health more and more. Health misinformation can cause harm to individuals, communities and societies through otherwise preventable illnesses and our social well-being through polarization and the erosion of public trust. These harms often fall most heavily on the most vulnerable.

In Alberta the recent elevation and platforming of health misinformation regarding vaccination combined with the absence of accurate information from credible health authorities can exacerbate vaccine hesitancy. More needs to be done to support Albertans in making informed decisions about their health. Read an open letter as well as opinion letter from Alberta public health leaders encouraging our public health officials to share evidence-informed vaccination information with Albertans.

Learn more about the impacts of science and health misinformation as well as leading practices for addressing misinformation from the Council of Canadian Academies in their 2023 expert panel report Fault Lines and the Public Policy Forum report on  Science and Health Misinformation in the Digital Age.